The Keystone Center Receives Grant to Facilitate Nuclear Power Discussion

May 31, 2006

The Keystone Center received a $100,000 grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts to support a joint fact-finding process focused on the risks and benefits of the future expansion of nuclear power in the United States.

“The need for more baseload electricity generation coupled with concerns about climate change and the high prices of oil and natural gas have prompted discussions about the possibility of expanding the role of nuclear power,” said The Keystone Center President Peter Adler, Ph.D. “Before debating what role, if any, nuclear power should play in the future mix of energy sources, proponents and skeptics need to reach a common understanding about the state of the technologies and the costs, benefits and risks.”

Nearly 30 individuals, representing public interest groups, the nuclear and utility industries, consumer and environmental advocates, large consumers, labor representatives, state and federal regulators, energy policymakers and the financial, research and academic communities, will participate in the project, which will include three plenary meetings and six workgroup meetings.

Through these meetings, The Keystone Center will facilitate discussions aimed at:

• Building a common understanding between proponents and skeptics of how nuclear technology has changed, the pros and cons of the technologies, and the costs, human health and safety impacts of nuclear generation, and
  
  
• Narrowing the gap between proponents and skeptics over these issues.

“With a common information base, expert stakeholders will be better able to discuss in the future the appropriate role of nuclear generation and what policies are needed to ensure that nuclear power is consistent with national energy and environmental goals, as well as stakeholder interests and values,” said Catherine Morris, director of The Keystone Center’s Energy Practice.

The project is expected to conclude in late 2006 with results available in early 2007. The Keystone Center is currently conducting an assessment to identify the scope of issues, the appropriate design of the fact-finding process and credible resources and experts.

The Pew Charitable Trusts grant is complemented by funding from American Electric Power, Duke Energy, Entergy, Exelon, FPL Group, General Electric, Nuclear Energy Institute and Southern Company.

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